Keep PA Beautiful accepting applications for two special programs

Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful announced on July 12 it is accepting applications for the 25 Grants in 25 Days Program that will award 25 grants of up to $1,000 for community improvement projects, including planting natives, restoring habitats, restoring our parks, cleaning up our rivers and communities, providing recycling opportunities at special events and so many more.

The award program is open to tax-exempt groups across the state and applications will be accepted through Aug. 15 at 5 p.m.

Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful will announce a new award every day for 25 days via social media from Sept. 1 through Sept. 25. Accepted projects require a 50 percent match and must be completed by April 30, 2017.

“We started this program last year as a way to celebrate the volunteers, communities and organizations that have contributed so much over the past 25 years to our shared mission of building clean and beautiful communities,” said Shannon Reiter, President of Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful. “The program created so much positive change in so many communities; we are offering it again this year.”

This project is funded by Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful, with partial support from the Richard King Mellon Foundation.

Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful is also still accepting applications for its 2016 Fresh Paint Days Program, developed in partnership with Behr Paints and The Home Depot. Applications are due July 31.

Grants of paint and painting supplies are available to community groups to renew a community structure in need of beautification.

For inspiration, additional requirements and an application for both these programs, visit www.keeppabeautiful.org and click on Grants and Awards.